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Steven Meyer, MAS
Chair of the Board
Steven Meyer, MAS, joined Molenaar LLC in 1998 and has served as Vice President of Sales for the past 5 years. On a regional level, Steven has served as a President, Board Officer and Committee Chair for the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals. Since 2003, he has been a member of the Professional Development, Government Relations, CAS/MAS Certification Committees along with many advisory groups for Promotional Products Association International. He has served as the PPAI Board delegate to the Regional Association Council and was a Board member of the Promotional Professional Mentoring Network. In 2009, Steven was elected to the PPAI Board of Directors and has served as Chair Elect and as Government Relations Action Council Chair. Steven and his wife, Jodi, live in Willmar, MN; have been married for 24 years. They have a son Matt, (and daughter in law Christel) and a daughter Kim, (and son in law Chris). Kim and Chris have two daughters, Zoe (3) and Audrey (1). Steven is a proud supporter of the Promotional Products Education Foundation and locally supports the Kandiyohi Humane Society, Kandiyohi County Salvation Army and American Diabetes Association. Steven and Jodi both were raised in Lawrence, Kansas and are diehard Kansas Jayhawk fans.
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Marc Simon
Chair-Elect of the Board
Mr. Simon was appointed Chief Executive Officer and a director of HALO Branded Solutions in February 2001. He was honored as the 2006 "Person of the Year" by one of the industry's trade publications. Under Mr. Simon's leadership, HALO has grown significantly with more than 15 acquisitions and more than 200 new recruits. He views his mission as adding value to HALO’s sales force by helping our several hundred industry sales people grow their businesses and meet the challenges of a changing economic environment.
Prior to joining HALO, Mr. Simon spent 22 years in the private law practice with a focus on business planning and mergers and acquisitions, and 5 years as a leading executive in the call center industry. Mr. Simon is also a CPA and has a BS in accounting and a J.D. from the University of Illinois.
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Eric E. Ekstrand, MAS
Immediate Past Chair of the Board
Eric started in the promotional products industry in 1982 as a partner in GMB Diversified. The Mort C. McClennan Company (MCMCC) acquired GMB Diversified in 1990. Eric was promoted to Senior Vice President in 1998.
Promotional Products Involvement:
- Attained a Master Advertising Specialist certification in 2004
- Served as a member on the PPAI Membership Task force in 2004
- Served as the Regional Association Council (RAC) Delegate for Ohio Promotional Products Association (OPPA)
- Served as a Board Member of RAC - RAC Delegate to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Board
- President of RAC 2006
- Currently serves on the PPAI Board of Directors, Class of 2012
- Currently serves at the Chair of GRAC (Government Relations Action Council)
- Currently serves on the Board of Promotional Products Education Fund (PPEF)
- PPAI Advocate and member of Promotional Products Mentoring Network (PPMN)
- Winner of nine (9) Golden Pyramid Awards
Community Involvement:
- Member of the Portage & Summit County American Red Cross Executive Board Committee
- Trustee & Life Member of Solon 100 –“Community Business Professionals Supporting the Solon Safety Forces”
- Member of VASA-Swedish American Lodge
Personal:
Eric has been married for 36 years to Sandra who is a Business Professor at Mount Union College. They have two grown daughters and are proud grandparents to two grandsons ages seven and one year.
In their spare time, Eric and Sandy enjoy time with the grandsons, attending Ohio State sporting events, traveling with friends and cruising the countryside in their Porsche Boxster. They also enjoy additional spare time since his retirement from a dual career as a professional Lieutenant/Paramedic with the City of Solon Fire Department.
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